Cakeland face the music and jellyfish
Explore co-ordinator Jayne Gissing reports on a successful event in the North West and Yorkshire series, hosted by Liverpool Victoria RC
The Cakeland crew, from left: Jayne, Ollie, Peri, Matt and Ian
Birkenhead Docks were the location for the latest Explore series races, hosted by the Liverpool Victoria Rowing Club.
This time the Cakeland crew consisted of Peri Collins, Ian Stanistreet and me alongside two of our newer members, Matt Page and Ollie Barker, fresh off April’s learn-to-row course but full of enthusiasm and potential.
As cox, I enjoyed the opportunity to experience a different position in the boat and practice another set of rowing skills.
The conditions were glorious: sunshine, fabulous flat water and a super-spacious and easy-to-navigate course that took us towards the clubhouse and toe-tappingly joyful tunes from UkeeBlinders, the Wallasey U3A ukulele band. The smell of BBQ was in the air, there was the de rigueur table of delicious cake, and – unexpectedly – jellyfish in the water.
Toe-tapping fun: UkeeBlinders, the Wallasey U3A ukulele band
We were first up and straight at it not long after arrival. Despite this being Ollie and Matt’s first experience of racing, the crew remained cool, calm, collected and strong, coming out with a comfortable win over Trafford’s Peas in a Quad.
I was then loaned to cox Hollingworth’s second crew, Lake Expectations, sadly not guiding them to victory, but for a scratch crew with some less experienced rowers, they made a valiant effort.
Cakeland’s confidence was boosted with another win in our second, slightly closer race, this time against Warrington’s To Be Oar Not.
The third race of the day saw us face our strongest opponents, Hollingworth Oar You Kidding, who piped us at the post and became the day’s leaders. It was tantalisingly close all the way, and we enjoyed the excitement of (almost) side-by-side racing.
We rounded off the event with a final win against Windermere’s Mere Kats, making a highly satisfactory three victories from four races.
All in all, it was another fun, friendly outing, meeting and socialising with other clubs and gaining valuable racing experience in conditions hard to recreate in club sessions. Many thanks to all the organisers, volunteers, boat providers (Liverpool and Runcorn), tea, coffee and cake makers and, of course, the ukulele band!
Race faces: Cakeland at the ready in sunny Birkenhead Docks